Call me Michael Pachter, but I have a few entirely unsurprising declarations to make regarding the future of handheld gaming in the coming years. Nostradamus hats on, please:

The 3DS will sell more than the NGP due in large part to the strength of the DS brand and the appeal of glasses-less 3D.

NGP sales in Japan will be propped up by the release of Monster Hunter.

The disparity between 3DS and NGP sales will be similar to that of the DS and PSP respectively, as the focus of each platform remains virtually identical to that of its predecessor (a central gimmick versus graphical horsepower).

Revisions of the NGP will ditch the rear touch screen to reduce unit size and drive down production costs.

Nothing groundbreaking, I know, but there's an incredible sense of deja vu unfolding as these two handhelds approach release. There are a few key areas where Sony can close the gap and build a future of profitability, namely in the online space, where Nintendo is notoriously stagnant. That is where everything is moving, after all, and if Sony hit it hard, they can enjoy some of that 'blue ocean' love they've been missing out on before Nintendo gets hip to the scheme. Also, if Sony can finally realise that elusive dream of seamless play between consoles and handhelds, that would be a very impressive (and lucrative) notch on their belt.

Ultimately, I think if Sony focus on being profitable rather than being 'first', they could have a very successful few years ahead of them.